Evidence of meeting #1 for Natural Resources in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Yes. We have a motion to accept the motion under column two, which is what the committee was governed by in the last Parliament.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
I'd like to make an amendment to that motion. Again, this is in a spirit of cooperation. Let's treat everybody equally. Let's move, after the words “provided that”, that at least one member from each recognized party is present. That way, all parties are treated the same, and on the concerns that the opposition has about an MP not being available, that applies equally to everybody.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Hiebert, could you hold that? I wasn't actually aware that Mr. Allen made an amendment, but I'm told that he in fact made an amendment to the motion.
Is that correct, Mr. Allen? I'm sorry. I missed that.
So we can't accept your motion, Mr. Hiebert, until we vote on Mr. Allen's.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
We can go back to another amendment if Mr. Allen's amendment is defeated.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Okay, so Mr. Allen has made an amendment, but Ms. Brunelle's does not come into play.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
She made the original motion that we accept what is stated in column two, across from number three, which is the way the committee was governed last time. The amendment is from Mr. Allen.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I thought Mike spoke first and made a suggestion. I assumed that was the amendment. Ms. Brunelle spoke later and made an amendment. Now Mr. Allen wants to make an amendment.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Allen, apparently you were first--my apologies. You made a motion to provide that there are at least four members present, including two opposition members and one government member.
Madam Brunelle, you have to give me an amendment to accomplish what you want to accomplish here.
Bloc
Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Excuse me.
I did not move an amendment. I just gave my opinion. I said that I did not agree with the gentleman's motion and that I wanted to have the same motion as previously.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Okay, so we're still working with the motion by Mr. Allen.
Is there any other discussion on that motion?
Conservative
The Clerk
The motion reads:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least 4 members are present, including 2 members of the opposition and 1 from the government.
(Motion negatived)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Now we will go to other proposals.
Mr. Siksay is next, and then Mr. Hiebert.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
I'd like to make a motion that it be as it was in the last Parliament:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least 4 members are present, including 2 members of the opposition.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
I'd like to amend that to read exactly as it was read, except that after “4 members are present” it would read, “1 from each recognized party”.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
You've heard the amendment, and now the debate is on the amendment.
Mr. Siksay.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
As the lone New Democrat on the committee, I don't think I should have the ability to block the work of that committee by deciding not to show up, so I think that's inappropriate. The amendment could potentially bog down the work of the committee, even for the limited purpose of hearing evidence. So I will not support the amendment.
(Amendment negatived)
